Non-refillable bottle.



PATENTED PEB. 27, 1906.

W. J. HIGMAN. NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1905.

UNITED STATES ENCE,

PATENT NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application tiled June 19, 1905. Serial No. 265,951.

T0 all whom, it muy concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM J. IIIGMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Non-Refillable Bottle, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to bottles of that class which are especially designed to prevent re- 'lilling by an unauthorized person with an inferior grade or a spurious liquid after a part or the whole of the original contents shall have been emptied from bottle or package.

The object which I have in view is the provision of a simple and inexpensive construction which allows the bottle or package to be originally iilled in an easy manner, after which the several parts may be quickly assembled to prevent access being obtained to them for subsequent removal and at the same time allow the liquid to be easily and readily decanted. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved non-reiillable bottle. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stopper-holding cap. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sleeve which its in the neck of the bottle. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the valve-cover. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the cap upon which the valve rests, and Fig. 8 is ahorizontal sectional view on line 7 7 of Fig. l.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, in which I have illustrated only the top portion and the neck and entrance of a bottle, together with such elements as comprise my invention, numeral l designates a fragment of the top portion of a bottle; 2, its neck portion, which is provided with a mouth 3. At the entrance to the mouth a short counterbore 4 is formed. In the peripheral surfaceof the counterbore I form a circumferential recess 5, which I term a keyway In the mouth of the neck of the bottle I place a sleeve 6, which iits loosely therein and is provided with an annular lip 7 at its top end which iits the counterbore 4 and rests on the shoulder 8, formed between the two apertures 3 and 4. rlhis sleeve is provided with a bottom 9, in which an axial aperture l() is formed. The lower end of the sleeve is provided with a circumferential groove 6A, in which a rubber washer 6B is placed, which is adapted to i bear resiliently against the inner peripheral surface of the neck with pressure enough to prevent the liquid going by it up into the neck of the bottle. In the lower part of the interior ofthe sleeve a float-chamber 10A is formed, in which several introverted guardribs 1I are formed, which extend from the edge of the aperture in the bottom of the sleeve, from which they curve backwardly enough up in the sleeve to allow a ball-shaped float 11A, of rubber or other suitable material, to be inserted in the sleeve and to rest loosely between the flukes and against the aperture in the bottom of the float-chamber and raise the float from its seat a sufficient distance to permit the contents of the bottle to be easily poured out of the bottle past it. These guard-lips are of even length, and on top of them I set a cap 12, the inside of which is provided with a plurality of introverted guard-lips 13, that extend from the inner periphery of the cap to near but not quite to the center at their lower ends, which extend from the lower edge of the cap flush or even with it and rest directly on the iiukes 11 of the float-chamber, which are adapted to confine the float to the center of the chamber and at the same time to form passages for the liquid around it. From their lower points, however, these flukes slope backward to the inner surface of the cap and lioin the cap on the edge of an aperture 14, formed through its top surface. These flukes also act to form passages for the liquid, and also to prevent the float from approaching too near the liquid-outlet aperture 14 in the cap. rIhe top of this cap is level, and on it I place a conical valve 15, which is preferably made of an angle of forty-six degrees, although the valve may be made of any other angle, if desired. Over this conical valve I place a spidershaped member 16, which I term the valvecover, which comprises a central hub portion 17, from which a plurality of guard-wings 18 radiate at equal distances ap art around its surface. I preferably use four of these wings, and they are of equal length and fit loosely inside of the sleeve and rest on to of the cap 12, and through the center of the fiub a small aperture 18E is formed, that registers directly over the apex of the conical valve. The lower end of this spider-shaped valve-cover is providedwith a concaved recess, and the ends of the four wings which rest on the cap l2 extend at an upward level of slightly less de- IIO gree than the slope or level of the conical valve from the cap on which they rest to the top of the concaved recess, and between these four guard-wings I form a plurality of short straight guard-wings 18A, which extend from the edge of the concaved recess to its apex, and they are of the same angle as the long ribs 18. The angle of the conical valve is preferably forty-six degrees, while I preferably make the slope of the inner edges of4 these valve guard-wings forty-five degrees, as they will keep the Valve in position to cover the outlet-aperture in the float-cap when bottle is standing on its bottom or is inclined below a horizontal angle not greater than forty-five degrees, but when turned to an angle of forty-six degrees they allow the valve to open to its fullest capacity, and in order to do this I make these guard-wings with enough larger conical space between them to permit the valve to move o eratively on its seat in the conical space ormed by them. The wings of the valve-cap are of even hei ht and extend above the hub portion to alglow ample spaces between them for the liquid in the bottle to run out over the hub, and on top of the wings I place astopperholding cap 19 on top of a flexible washer 19A. This cap consists of a stem part having an enlarged disk-shaped base which fits closely but loosely in the counterbored entrance to the neck of the bottle and rests on top of the wings of the valve-cover. The periphery of the disk portion of this sto pper-holder is provided with a circumferential keyway 20, that registers opposite the keyway 5 in the neck of the bottle, and on opposite sides of the disk I form in its upper edge two small grooves 21 and 22, that extend into its keyway, as shown in Fig. 2. The stem portion of the stoppercap is provided with an axial aperture of two diameters 23 and 24, the smaller of which is in its bottom and forms the liquid-passage from the bottle, while the larger aperture is outwardly tapered as made to receive a stopper. In the keyways of the neck and stopper-holder I place two keys 25. These keys are made in the form of a crescent and comprise a two-winged s ring-key. (See Fig. 8.) These springs may e made of any suitable spring metal or of any suitable material. The wings 26 and 27 are formed to be resiliently bent back against the ends 28 and 29 of the key, as the center of the key is of the same thickness as the ends, but the springwings are adapted to normally 'stand out from the body of the key, but are compressed against the ends when the keys are inserted in the keyways ofthe neck and stopper-holding cap.

The operation is as follows: The bottle is filled before my non-refilling device is put into it; but after it is filled the sleeve, with its'washer 6B, is rst pressed into the neck of the bottle. The float is then placed in the float-chamber of the sleeve. The float-cap is then placed over the float. Then the conical valve is placed on the cap and the valvecover is placed over the valve, and then the spring-keys are placed in the keyways of the stopper-cap. It is placed in the counterbore of the neck of the bottle on top of the valvecover, and as it is pressed into place the two springs, which are held on opposite sides of the keyway of the stopper-cap with the fingers and pressed into the keyway until they are pressed into the neck of the bottle, fly outward into the keyway of the neck of the bottle when the two keyways register opposite each other. These spring keys are made enough narrower than the width of the keyway to permit them to easily expand from the cap into the keyway of the neck of the bottle. A suitable cement is then inserted in the keyways through the grooves 21 and 22, and the device is sealed. A stopper 30 is then placed in the Stopper-cap. To pour out the liquid contents of a bottle equipped with my nonrellable device, iirst remove the stopper, then turn the bottle neck downward substantially at or below an angle of forty-five degrees, when the liquid will low out freely. In case the conical valve should stick from long standing insert a wire through the aperture 18A in Yits cover, which will strip the valve on one side of its apex and move 1t to one side. Then thebottle is tilted to pour out its contents, the float rolls against its cap, and the conical valve slides to the lowest side of its seat on the cap and against its guardlips, and the liquid iiows past the oat through the iiukes of the float-cap and through its central aperture past the conical valve and between the flukes ofthe valve-cover around its hub portion and over its top out through the stopper-cap. The construction of the valve-cover is such that it is impossible to insert a wire or anything around the valvecover and in any Way lift or move or manipulate the conical valve to refill the bottle, while the proportionate dimensions of the base of the conical valve and the lliquid-discharge aperture 14 are such that the valve can slide to any way and come in contact with its guard-wings and still cover the discharge-outlet 14, and should an attempt be -made to force liquid into it by tipping the bottle upside down the oat will rise up against its seat and prevent the entrance of any liquid into the bottle.

My non-reiillable bottle is simple in construction, its parts are few and are easily made and quickly assembled, and the form of the neck of the bottle is also very simple and easy to make.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle having a mouth, of the .lOO

IIO

sleeve, secured in said mouth, having a liquidoutlet, a float arranged to control said outlet, introverted flukes in said sleeve arrangedrto form liquid-passages around said float, and a fiuted cap having a liquid-outlet arranged in. said sleeve to confine the operative movement of said ioat.

2. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle, of the sleeve, the float adapted to control the outlet of the bottle, and the float-cap, having a liquid-outlet, With the conical valve, mounted on said cap, to control said liquid-outlet, a spider-cover in said sleeve over said valve arranged to control its operative movement, and means for confining said spider in saidv sleeve, as set forth.

3. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination of the bottle With the sleeve, the fioat adapted to control the outlet of the bottle, the float-cap, the conical valve, and the spider having a conical recess of greater angle, and area, than said valve, arranged to fit over said valve, With clearance-space enough to alloW said valve operative movement Within said spiders conical recess, arms on said spider arranged to form liquid-passages around said valve, a hub portion to said spider having a small axial aperture through it, and means including a stopper-holding cap arranged to be keyed in said bottle to confine said spider in operative relation to said valve, as set forth.

4. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination of the bottle having a neck having a mouth provided With a counterbore at its entrance, and having a circumferential keyWay, with the sleeve seated in said counterbore and mouth, the fioat adapted to control the outlet of the bottle, the fioat-cap, and valveseat, the conical valve, and the valve-cover in said sleeve, the stopper-cap, having a flange portion fitting the counterbore in said mouth, and provided with a circumferential keyvvay arranged to register opposite the keyway of said bottles counterbore, the keys having spring-Wings and arranged to be sprung into said keyWay, as set forth.

5. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle having a mouth, provided With a counterbore having a circumferential keyway, of a stopper-receiving cap, adapted to fit in said counterbore and containing a liquid-outlet, said stopper-cap having a circumferential keyvvay arranged to register with said keyway, in said counterbore, and a key having tWo spring-Wings arranged and adapted to be inserted in said registering keyvvays and lock said stoppercap to said bottle, as set forth.

6. In a non-refillablebottle, the combination with the bottle having a mouth, provided With a counterbore having a circumferential keyWay, of a stopper-receiving cap, adapted to iit in said counterbore and having a liquid-outlet, said stopper-cap having a circumferential keyWay arranged to register With said kevway, in said counterbore, and a key having two spring-Wings arranged and adapted to be inserted in said registering key- Ways and lock said stopper-cap to said bottle, said stopper-cap being provided with grooves in its peripheral edge leading into said key- Ways arranged and adapted to conduct a suitable cement into said keyways, as set forth.

7. In a non-reiillable bottle, the combination of the bottle having a neck having a mouth provided With a counterbore, having a keyway, a stopper-cap filling said counterbore, having a keyWay registering with the keyvvay in said counterbore, and keys, comprising crescent-shaped keys having springblades adapted to be compressed and placed in the keyvvay of said caps, While inserting said ca in said counterbore, and adapted to eXpan into the keyvvay of said. counterbore when said keyways register with each other after said cap is inserted in its operative position in said counterbore, as set forth.

8. In a non-rellable bottle, the combination with a bottle provid ed With a neck having a mouth having a counterbore, keys in said counterbore, and a stopper-cap secured to said mouth by said keys, of a sleeve in said mouth, having a float-chamber, having a liquid-outlet aperture, a float in said float-chamber, a cap arranged to define the operative movement of said float, provided With an outlet-aperture, and a valve operatively arranged to control the outlet-aperture of said cap, substantially as described.

9. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination With the neck provided With a mouth and a counterbore at the entrance to the mouth, the sleeve, the float adapted to control the outlet of the bottle, the cap for defining the movement of said float, said sleeve and cap being provided With liquid-outlet apertures, with a conical valve seated on said fioat-cap, a Winged-valve-holding hub arranged to confine said valve in operative relation to its seat, a stopper-cap in the mouth of said bottle, and means, including keys, for securing said stopper-cap in the mouth of said bottle, substantially as described.

10. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination Withv the bottle, provided With a neck and mouth and having a circumferential keyway in the entrance to its mouth, a sleeve secured in the mouth of said bottle, provided With a liquid-outlet aperture and a oat-chamber in its bottom, a circumferential roW of introverted flukes in said iioat-chamber around its periphery, a float in the center of said iukes arranged to control said liquid-outlet, a cap containing a liquid-outlet aperture seated on said fiukes in said float-chamber, a circumferential roW of fiukes in said cap adapted to prevent said float from approaching too near said cap-outlet, and to provide passages' for said IOO IIO

liquid around said iioat, a conical valve seated on said oap over said liquid-outlet, a spider-block arranged over said valve containing a beveled recess defined by the inner lower edges of said spiders guard-arms, and arranged and adapted to permit operative movement of said valve on its seat, said cap being provided with a small aperture registering opposite the apex of said valve, and means, including a stopper-receiving cap, secured in the mouth of said bottle, for'conining said spider in operative relation to said valve, substantially as described.

11-` In a non-refillable bottle, the combination of abottle, a sleeve having a liquid-outlet secured in the mouth of said bottle, said sleeve also having a iioat-chamber, a iloat contained therein; a cap and lukes arranged tO deiine the movement of iioat, and provided with a liquiddischarge aperture, a conical valve seated on said cap to control its liquid-outlet aperture, a spider arranged to operatively coniine said valve to its seat, and means, in-

lliquid-outlet aperture, With the conical valve, the valve-coniining spider, and the stopper-.

cap, having a keyWay, registering opposite the keyWay in said bottle, and the springkeys arranged and adapted to said keyways, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I ai'lix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

WILLIAM J. HIGMAN.

Witnesses:

G. SARGENT ELLIOTT, BEssIE THOMPSON. 

